Review of the trade-in-services pact Taiwan signed with China is scheduled to take place tomorrow in legislative committee. But if today’s failed attempt at reconciliation is any indication, the review is unlikely to take place.

DPP says president has failed to convince citizens of need for trade pact (2014/04/02)

For those suspicious of the cross-strait trade-in-services pact, yesterday President Ma Ying-jeou said not to worry because the pact is just like a marriage – it can always be terminated. Today the DPP took Ma to task for this and other comments by asking why Taiwan should enter into an agreement if the people aren’t sure how it will be beneficial.

Culture Minister Lung Ying-tai praised students occupying the Legislative Yuan for their ability to organize a movement. But she also called their occupation of the lawmaking body illegal and unjustified.

Students continue to insist on citizens’ constitutional conference (2014/04/02)

The Cabinet seems likely to propose a national affairs conference on trade and economics to discuss opposition concerns over the cross-strait trade and services pact. This has failed to satisfy student demonstrators who insist on a citizens’ constitutional conference.

To give President Ma the space he needs to end the student-led occupation of the Legislative Yuan, KMT Legislator Lu Shiow-yen suggested that Beijing allow adjustments to the trade-in-services pact. But a Chinese official threw cold water on the idea by remarking that there are few precedents for trade talks being renegotiated.

Students stage sit-in over review of trade-in-services pact (2014/04/02)

As the DPP blocked review of the cross-strait trade-in-services pact inside the Legislative Yuan, students staged a sit-in outside. The students demand that legislation for a cross-strait agreement monitoring mechanism be completed before review of the pact proceeds.

Taiwan’s Chen Wei-yin is scheduled to start the final game of the Baltimore Orioles opening home stand against the Boston Red Sox. Chen will take the mound on Friday at 7 am, Taiwan time, against lefty Felix Doubront. Here is a clip of Chen promoting FTV

Tension was high today at the Legislative Yuan when a former leader of the Bamboo Union gang and pro-China activist confronted student protesters. Chang An-lo compared the students to kidnappers and demanded that they leave the lawmaking body.